Box tie and seal therefor



July 7, 1936. E. A. JOHNSON 2,046,634

' BOX TIE AND SEAL THEREFOR Filed Feb. 12, 1934 INVENTOR,

BY y

A TTORNEYJ! tension when applied to the box or package.

7 STATE PATENT oFFIcE BOX TIE AND SEAL THEREFOR Eric A. Johnson, Chicago, 111., assignor to Inland Wire Products of Illinois I 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation Application February 12, 1934, Serial No. 710,780

Claims.

. This invention relates to means for handing or strapping boxes, cartons, bales and the like, and

its object is to provide a band of flexible and reasonably cheap material, together with fastening means by which it can be securely held under The invention therefore consists in the provision of a novel material for the band, and in the combination of such band and the holding device herein shown and described, as indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing: a V

Figure 1 is a perspective view representing a box or carton secured by ties or bands embodying this invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a fragment of the band or tie at the point where its ends are lapped, together with a metallic sealing member applied to said lapped ends.

'Figure 3 is a perspective View of the metallic seal before its application to the band.

a Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a modified form of metallic seal.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of seal before application to the band.

Figure 6 is a perspective View similar to Figure 2, showing another modified form of fastening device for connecting the lapped ends of the band.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the fastening device of Figure 6 as it appears before application to the band.

One method of fastening bales and boxes is to apply ties or bands of strap steel or wire. When wire is used the ends may be merely twisted together, but when fiat strap stock is employed it is customary to secure the lapped ends by means of some special form of seal. Metallic ties of this nature are satisfactory for relatively heavy packages and wooden boxes, but in the case of paperwrapped bundles, or pasteboard cartons, the steel band of the wire is likely to out into the box or package, reducing the security of the wrapping and injuring the neat appearance of the package.

For such uses my invention contemplates employing straps or bands composed of hard paper or fiber, with the ends of each band lapped on each other and securely fastened by a metallic seal. Figure 1 represents a box or carton at A, with two bands, B, B, applied thereto and fastened by metallic seals shown at C, C. In Figure 2 the end portions, B B of one of the bands, B, are shown lapped upon each other and secured bythe seal, C. Figure 3 shows the metallic seal, C, in the form in which it may be provided for application to the band. It comprises a rectangular or substantially square-fiat area, I, with down-turned marginal flanges, Zand 3, at two opposite edges. When the seal is applied to the lapped end, B B of the hand, these flanges, 2 and 3, are folded under the band, as indicated in dotted lines at 2 and 3 in Figure 3, so as to firmly grip the margins of the lapped portions of the band. Additional security is then insured by crimping the seal bodily at the middle and transversely of the band, as seen at C in Figure 2. This, of course, forms inter-engaging transverse crimps in the band itself, making it practically impossible for the lapped ends to slip upon each other if the tension upon them is increased.

While the seals, 0, may be made up individually, and applied as needed, it may be preferable, particularly if such seals are applied by a machine, to form them in multiple strips from which each seal will be severed or broken off, as required. When thus formed, the adjacent seals of the strip may be connected by narrow frangible neck portions which appear as short lugs, 4, 4, projecting from opposite edges when the seals have been separated'and applied,as in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of seal, as applied to the lapped end portions, B B of the band. In this seal, D, the originally flat rectangular area, 10, has a central aperture, I l, with pointed tangs, l2, projecting downwardly from the margins of said aperture, so that when the seal is applied to the hand, these tangs will be driven through the lapped end portions for providing additional security against slippage of the band portions upon each other. Marginal flanges, l3, are bent up, as indicated at l3 around the edges of the band portions, B B in the same manner as in the seal, C, and the middle portion of the seal is also crimped, as seen at D As shown in Figures 4 and 5, this form of seal includes lugs, 40, representing the frangible portions by which the seals may be initially connected in multiple formation.

Figures 6 and '7 illustrate a further modification of the sealing or securing means for the lapped ends, B and B of the band. In this form the securement is accomplished primarily by sharp tangs, 50, which are initially formed, as seen in Figure 7, projecting downward from cross bars, 5!, connected by a central portion, 52, so that the general form of the structure is similar to a letter H. The central portion, 52, may be apertured, as seen at 53, for engagement with a feeding device of a tool or mechanism, not shown, by which the fastener is applied to the bands. Securement is accomplished by merely forcing the tangs, 50, through the material of the lapped ends, B B and clinching over the ends of the tangs against the under surface of the band, as indicated in dotted lines at 50*, on Figure 7.

With either form of fastening means, shown in Figures 4 to 7, the fact that the band itself is of material such as hard paper or fiber, permits the prongs or tangs to be readily forced through the material; but the fiat shape of these tangs results in a minimum of distortion or fracture of the band so that it is not substantially weakened.

When a box tie or band of paper or hard fiber is employed in accordance with this invention,

the packages received in the home may be readily opened by merely cutting the bands with ordinary shears, whereas if steel or wire ties were used, they could not usually be unfastened, except with special tools not available in the average house,-

hold. The employment of paper or fiber for this purpose therefore greatly broadens the field for this type of fastening. It also provides a'more secure package, and results in a much neater appearance than the, use of rope or string. In

the application of a tie of this nature there is less likelihood of cutting the fingers than when steel bands are used; and when the tie has served its purpose the paper or fiber may be easily disposed of by burning. It may be understood that I do not limit myself strictly to paper or-fiber, but that other relatively soft and flexible material such as fabric straps, may be employed within the scope of this invention. And while thereis shown and described herein certain specific structure-embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those 1 skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in so far as indicated by the appended claims.-

I claim:

1. A boxor packagetie'including a flat band of fibrous material with its end portions lapped edges to grip their marginal portions, said seal 10 V and the lapped ends of the band being crimped transversely of the band and the surface of the seal overlying the band being apertured, with tangs projecting marginally from the aperture. and piercing the lapped portions of the band. 15

3. A box' or package tie including a fiat band of fibrous material with its end portions lapped upon each other and formed with inter-engaging crimps, together with a metallic seal embracing said lapped portions for maintaining the crimped 20 portions in engagement and including prongs which pierce the lapped portions of the band.

4. A box or package tie including affiat band offibrous material with its end portions lapped upon each other and a; metallic seal applied to 25 7 said lapped portions with flanges folded around their edges to grip their marginal portions, the middle portion of said seal being apertured, leaving relatively narrow portions overlying the margins of the band, and said narrow portions being crimped transversely with the lapped ends of the band to increase the frictional hold between said lapped ends and the-seal, and the seal having tangs projecting marginally from the aperture and piercing the lapped portions of the, band. I

5. A box or package tie including a fiat flexible band of dense fibrous material encompassing the 7 package and lapped upon itself, and a metallic seal embracing the lapped portions of the band,

said seal and band being deformed in interlocking engagement with each other, and said parts being additionally. secured by projections on the seal engaging perforationsin the band.

ERICAJ JOHNSON. 1 

